YouTube is venturing into gaming with its Playables program offering over 75 lightweight games for users to enjoy. This is an expansion of YouTube’s gaming initiatives, previously exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers now available to all users globally.
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Initially launched as a pilot program for YouTube Premium members, Playables gained attention for its unique approach to integrating gaming within the platform.
The program’s expansion follows a trend of tech giants including Netflix and LinkedIn diversifying their services to include gaming, to enhance user engagement and retention.
Google’s previous attempt at gaming, Google Stadia, faced challenges and was eventually shut down in 2023 due to underwhelming user adoption.
Users can access the program on both mobile and desktop devices through the YouTube app or website. The games span various genres from casual titles like Angry Birds Showdown and Cut the Rope to classics like chess and crossword puzzles.
Playables allows players to save their progress and track high scores across different games. YouTube Premium subscribers can enjoy uninterrupted gameplay with the option to continue watching videos in the background while playing.
The program are gradually rolling out to users in the US, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia with plans for wider availability in the coming months.
Users can find Playables on the YouTube Home page and in the Explore menu, making them easily accessible to millions of YouTube viewers worldwide.
While the rollout is ongoing some users may not immediately see Playables on their devices but can expect them to appear in due course.
Unlike gaming models reliant on in-app purchases or paid downloads, YouTube’s Playables do not directly challenge existing app store frameworks.
The potential for monetization through advertising remains a possibility leveraging YouTube’s extensive ad platform to generate revenue from gameplay sessions.
Google has not yet indicated specific plans to monetize Playables but could explore opportunities to capitalize on this new avenue in the future.
Netflix offers games as part of its subscription service, while LinkedIn introduced gaming features to enhance user engagement.
Google’s Playables distinguish themselves by leveraging YouTube’s massive user base and existing infrastructure to provide a gaming experience within the platform.
The gaming industry is generating more revenue than the movie industry and attracting vast audiences. Other media sectors often overlook gaming’s dominance.
Companies eager to tap into this market have made various attempts to break into the gaming space with mixed results.
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For users accessing the Playables page, the experience can feel like a trip back to the early 2000s. The selection of games is reminiscent of an old Kongregate page, featuring simple, casual games with logos and generic titles such as “8 Ball Billiards Classic” and “Bubble Pop Star.”
Hidden among the 75+ games are a few familiar titles. “Angry Birds Showdown” stands out as a Playables exclusive though it is yet another iteration of the popular franchise first announced in 2019 for mobile and previously available on Facebook Messenger. Other mentions include 2010’s “Cut the Rope” and 2018’s “Words of Wonder.”
If you’re looking for solitaire games or casual distractions, Playables might suffice. But many are left scratching their heads wondering what sets this apart from the plethora of other gaming sites already available.
The games on Playables run directly in your browser akin to many casual gaming sites from the past. The unique twist is that these games are accessible via YouTube URLs.
This integration questions about the feature’s purpose, especially given the absence of mobile games beyond the dated Angry Birds variant. The only clear motive seems to be providing another platform for Google to insert advertisements.
YouTube has announced the global rollout of Playables, extending the feature to more regions. Initially available only to YouTube Premium members, the games are now accessible on Android, iOS, and the web.
Users can find Playables under the Explore section on the desktop and through the compass icon on mobile.
The games are categorized into various genres including Action, Sports, Brain & Puzzle, Arcade, RPG & Strategy, Board & Card, Trivia & Word, and Simulation.
When signed in, Playables will save your game progress and track all-time best scores. Premium members benefit from having their current video continue playing in the background with game audio muted.
YouTube is expanding the program to more regions globally with plans to increase availability to more users over the coming months.
YouTube is encouraging users to provide feedback on Playables to help improve the feature. This interaction is facilitated through the “send feedback” option available while playing games. This initiative suggests that YouTube is open to evolving the feature based on user input.
YouTube’s entry into the casual gaming market is reminiscent of Netflix’s efforts, which began offering mobile games in 2021.
Unlike Netflix, which has seen some success with its curated selection of games, YouTube’s Playables appear to lack the same level of curation and quality.
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